This is a hybrid meeting:
- Join us in person at Knox Presbyterian Church (Lisgar & Elgin) in Geneva Hall. Please use the Garden Entrance on Elgin Street. Limited free street parking is available on Saturdays, and the City Hall Parking Garage is available for $2.00.
- Join online by registering here.
. This registration covers both events.
Where are My Military Records? / 9 a.m. EST
Presenter: Ken McKinlay
Have you ever discovered that one of your ancestors served in the Canadian or British military and wondered what to do next? This talk, led by Ken McKinlay, cuts through the confusion, guiding you to the essential collections and resources that can help you piece together the story of their service. We'll explore where we might find a wide range of records, including attestation papers, service files, and medal cards. Discover how these documents can reveal not only your ancestor's service to the Crown, but also vital personal details that bring their life story to light.
Embarking on a genealogical adventure over two decades ago, Ken McKinlay's quest began with a mission to confirm or debunk three family stories. Despite uncovering the truths behind those initial tales, Ken's passion for delving into his family's past remains steadfast, fueled by a constant stream of new questions. As a sought-after speaker by branches of Ontario Ancestors, the British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa, and other genealogy societies across Canada, Ken McKinlay shares his expertise through engaging talks and workshops. His topics have included researching those who have fought for Canada in the world wars, exploring the Canadian censuses, delving into the mysteries of Ontario Land Records, and an eight part series covering "Back to Basics" research for the British Isles. In 2025 he made his debut with Legacy Family Tree Webinars with his talk "Exploring Library and Archives Canada Online." His presentations also focus on genealogical methodologies and overcoming genealogy brick walls. Beyond public speaking, Ken shares his insights on his blog, Family Tree Knots, providing a valuable resource for fellow enthusiasts.
Military Moments / 10 a.m. EST
Finding Mount Ruppel: Remembering Uncle Bud
Presenter: Carol Annett
Carol Annett’s uncle, Warrant Officer Iverson Frederick “Bud” Ruppel, RCAF, was killed in action on 30 January 1944 when his Lancaster bomber crashed in a forest outside Berlin. In 1962, a mountain in British Columbia was named in his honour. Carol will reveal the surprising way in which Bud’s family finally learned about Mount Ruppel almost twenty years after the mountain was named.
Carol Annett has been doing genealogy research for over 20 years. During that time, she has visited her ancestral places, and her husband's, in England, Scotland and Canada. Attending her first BIFHSGO meeting in 2006, she joined the writing group the same day and is now coordinator of the group. She has contributed articles to ACR on the topics of home children, a vanished ancestral village in Scotland, surprising discoveries in cemeteries, ships that brought her ancestors to Canada, and a war bride and a great-grandmother on her husband's family tree. She has given several Great Moments talks and in November 2022 gave a feature presentation about her father's WW II experiences. “Finding Mount Ruppel” is her second presentation on a military theme.
Walter Preston: a Life Cut Short
Presenter: Susan Smart\
Walter Preston was born in 1885 in Surrey, England; at the age of 25, he emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto. In 1915, he enlisted in the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion of the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force. Walter participated in what became known as the Battle of the St. Eloi Craters in April 1916, enduring intense bombardment and two gas attacks. Once a strong and capable boiler maker, Walter was declared “unfit for duty” and died about 18 months later in a Toronto convalescent hospital. In this talk, Susan will examine Walter’s wartime experience and the use of gas as a weapon.
Susan Smart moved to Ottawa from Toronto four years ago. She is a member of BIFHSGO’s Website Advisory Committee and a member of the Conference 2025 planning group. Susan was a volunteer with the Ontario Genealogical Society for many years and at one point was chair of the Publications Committee. She is the author of the book, A Better Place: Death and Burial in Nineteenth-Century Ontario, and co-author of Using Forms for Genealogical Research.
My Dad and his Uncle Arthur, the 6th Bishop of Montreal, two fine Grenadier Guards
Presenter: Sally Doherty
Sally Doherty will talk about her Dad, Lt.-Col. Thomas H. Carlisle (whom she knew for 12 years), and her great Uncle Arthur Carlisle whom she never met. A generation apart, both set aside their careers to serve in the World Wars— her Dad leaving his law practice in 1939 to join the Canadian Grenadier Guards, and her Uncle Arthur leaving his parish in London, Ontario, to serve as a chaplain with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in WWI.
Born in Ottawa and raised in Switzerland, Sally Doherty spent the majority of her career in the aviation industry, primarily Swissair. Since her retirement in 2008, she has been actively involved with several genealogical societies, primarily BIFHSGO.
